I visited a few other schools before deciding to go with Hong Kong Language School because it offered the most flexible hours, a very competitive price and the friendliest staff!

2, How's the school environment?

The school is very easy to get to and the class studios are very cozy. The staff are extremely friendly and supportive. Loved their morning tea as well!

3, How's the class atmosphere?

I originally signed up for a group class but I was the only student so it became a one-on-one class which was awesome.

4. How's your teacher? Was your class effective? Did you learn what you had expected?

I couldn’t have been happier with my teacher, Jaime. At first I was a bit shy because my Cantonese pronunciations were poor. However, Jaime was very supportive and patient with me. She had such a fun and relaxing teaching style that just two classes later, I was able to chat with her about Cantonese pop stars and my business operations using words and phrases. By the end of level 1, I could carry on a basic conversation and understand most of the local news. I never thought that I could progress this fast. All credits to Jaime.

5, Will you come back & take more lessons? Why?

I will definitely come back for more classes because I won’t be able to achieve the same level of progression on myself.

6. Will you recommend Hong Kong Language School to your friends? Why?

I highly recommend the Hong Kong Language School. The school writes its own teaching materials and have the most flexible course schedule anywhere in HK. Joining HKLS is one of the best investment I’ve made in a while!

Hi folks! I just wanted to let you all know that I started volunteering this week with a union here in San Francisco. I'm helping them outreach to Chinese workers. The Union lost their Cantonese speaking staff person almost a year ago and they haven't been able to find a replacement. So I have been talking with the workers and yesterday i helped translate at a meeting. The meeting was conducted in Spanish English and Cantonese.

It was all really difficult for me, but the workers were really happy to have someone who could speak some Cantonese and they understood most of what I was saying. I also understood most of what they were saying.

I was so excited to finally see my hard work starting to pay off. I still have a lot to learn, but I think if am working on a daily basis with Chinese workers I'll learn quickly.

I'm also glad now that I chose Cantonese instead of Mandarin. Some of the workers that I spoke with told me they can understand Mandarin but can't speak it. But everyone spoke and understood Cantonese.

Thanks for all your support and training. I am definitely putting it to good use!

Sanjay

1, Why did you choose Hong Kong Language School?

I chose HKLS because I wanted to have an immersion experience that was fun but also challenging at the same time. The method of teaching seemed both rigorous and engaging. Furthermore, HKLS is one of the few language schools that also sets up a homestay with a Hong Kong family. I thought this would allow me to get the most out of my short time studying Cantonese in Hong Kong.

2, How's the school environment?

Free coffee, tea, and biscuits along with cozy, air conditioned classrooms - what more can one want?

3, How's the class atmosphere?

The class atmosphere is pretty casual. I sometimes didn't even realize that I was learning because we would become engrossed in trying to communicate about a variety of topics. Only after class would end would I realize how much I learned.

4, How's your teacher? Was your class effective? Did you learn what you had expected?

I had two different teachers, both of whom were extremely talented and effective. I've had several Cantonese teachers in the past and I can confidently say that the instructors at HKLS are by far the best I've ever worked with. They have the experience to explain grammar and concepts in ways that non-native speakers can understand. The teachers also teach a great deal about Chinese culture and thinking. All this is done in a conversational and fun way.

I enjoyed how rigorous the class was. Of course the instructor adjusts to the level of the class, but at the same time is always pushing students forward. I definitely got the experience that I wanted and felt that with the HKLS instructors I was able to learn very quickly.

5, Will you come back & take more lessons? Why?

Yes! I plan to come back and take more lessons. I am so excited to be able to have conversation in Cantonese, but I know that if I want to perfect my Cantonese I need to come back and learn.

6, Will you recommend Hong Kong Language School to your friends? Why?

Yes. I talk to a number of my friends about how great HKLS is. The teachers make HKLS the best. Attending classes at HKLS really made me realize how important it is to have experienced teachers.

Ms. Agata Duran from Poland (the first lady from the left)

Mandarin Beginners Level 2 to 4 Day Time class (7/2 – 1i/3, 2011)

1, Why did you choose Hong Kong Language School?

--I found it's flexibility, hours, prices, etc. very attractive.

2, How’s the school environment? How's the class atmosphere?

--The environment is very nice, teachers are always willing to answer your questions and help with problems, students chat during the breaks, give each other clues about learing stategies, etc.

3, How's your teacher? Was your class effective? Did you learn what you had expected?

--My teacher is great, she has very good teaching skills, her explanations are always clear, she points out the most important and interesting aspects of language, which helps to concentrate and understand Chinese language better. She also gives the cultural background, which is very important when learning a language. The atmosphere of class was relaxed yet productive. I have learnt what I expected - I wanted to develop my speaking and listening skills, and I think I've achieved that.

4, Will you come back & take more lessons? Why?

--I would like to come back and take more lessons, taking the intensive course allows you to see the progress, which is very motivating.

(Came Back to Us and already started a New Course - Mandarin Lower Intermediate Level 1 (11/05/2011 Until 24/5/2011)

--I would recommend Hong Kong Langue School to my friends because the atmosphere of the school is friendly, classes are effective - teachers are skilled, understanding and enthusiastic, courses are very flexible (which is especially important if you need to travel a lot) and prices are very competitive.)

(With a New friend joined us – Ms Magdavena Maestri - Mandarin Beginner level 3 (20/04/2011 Until 30/5/2011),the lady just right next to Agata

Gary Sciscent from U.S.A (the gentleman on the right)

Survival Cantonese (4/2 – 6/2, 2013)

1, Why did you choose Hong Kong Language School?

I took a crash course in Cantonese (Survival Cantonese) but I was already familiar with HKLS because my daughters had taken a Mandarin class at the school one summer. In both cases, the school was able to offer customized language classes with a professional language teacher on very short notice.

2, How's the school environment?

The school is in a full-service business district easily accessible by the subway.

3, How's the class atmosphere?

The classroom and office space are clean and brightly lit. My classes began promptly and there were periodic short rest breaks.

4, How's your teacher? Was your class effective? Did you learn what you had expected?

My teacher was superb and was sensitive to my ability to absorb the material and paced the class accordingly. I was interested in learning some introductory Cantonese, and this course was perfect for me. My class focused on everyday dialogue and useful expressions and we used the school's in-house developed handbook and cd that I still refer to when I self-study at home.

Of course learning, especially language learning, requires a good measure of individual effort and study time outside of the classroom. I needed a teacher to provide leadership and to help me navigate the course but in fact a fair amount of progress in my case depended on doing my homework and preparing for class every day.

5, Will you come back & take more lessons? Why?

Yes, I will take more classes in Cantonese - it's hard to stop once you start.

6, Will you recommend Hong Kong Language School to your friends? Why?

I would advise anyone learning a language to look for a school that is easily accessible and has well-qualified instructors who understand your goals and can help you design a realistic language program. In both cases, HKLS met those criteria and I had a successful learning experience.